Buoy or life-preserver



(N0 Model.)

'H. MGLELLAN.

BUOY OR LIFE PRESEBVER. No. 561,807.. Patented June 9, 1896.

www awe/$0.6

I a 6 0 V E Elbtomwws,

ANDREW l nnpunvim-mmnamncmne G UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. MCLELLAN, OF TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY.

BUOY OR LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561 ,80'?', dated June 9, 1896. Application filed February 27,1896. Serial No. 581,025. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MCLELLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toms River, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buoys or Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention. relates to that class of buoys usually denominated li[eprcservers; and the invention consists in constructing the buoy in the general form of a horseshoe and providing its ends with projections to engage with the arms of the person using the same, and thereby assist in holding it in place on the body while in the water, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the buoy, and Fig. 2 is a perspective sketch showing the same in use.

Many forms and kinds of life-preservers have been devised, some consisting of a series of floats flexibly united and others with straps and buckles or cords for fastening the ends together after they have been placed around the person. The kind in general use on naval and other Government vessels is what is known as the ring-buoy, from the fact that it is made in the form of a ring, the hole or space in the center being of such size as to enable it to he slipped over the person. EX- perience has shown that this ring-buoy is not available to a drowning person, as a general rule, for the reason that it is impossible for a person in the water to get the buoy on, es pecially when the water is rough.

The object of my present invention is to remedy this diiiiculty byinaking the buoy of such a form that a person in the water can readily apply it, and so that when applied it will remain in place on the body without the use of straps or any movable fastening. To accomplish these results, I make the buoy in the general form of a horseshoe or the letter U, as shown in Fig. 1, it being made sufficiently rigid to retain its shape at all times.

In order to hold it in position when in place on the person,l make the two ends with curved projections B to engage against the arms, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These projections are made, as shown, on both faces of the buoy, so that no matter which side up it happens to strike when thrown to a person in the water the projections on the uppermost side will, as soon as the buoy is slipped on the body, engage with the arms and hold it in place.

It will be readily seen that when put on from the front, as represented in Fig. 2, the projections will be in rear of the arms, or it can he slipped on from the rear, when the projections wlll engage with or be in front of the arms, the first being the preferable in ethod of applying it.

The projections 13 may be made to project more or less, as may be found desirable; but for convenience in hanging the buoys up around the sides of a vessel it is desirable that they shall notproject any more than is necessary to hold the buoy securely on the person.

For use on shipboard the buoy will be made of sheet or chipped cork covered with strong canvas, so as to be always ready for use. It will of course be made sufficiently rigid to retain its shape at all times.

lVhen made for the use of bathers or persons learning to swim, it will preferably be made of rubber or rubber-lined canvas and be provided with an air-valve, so that itcan be inflated or filled with air when wanted for use. hen made for such use, it will be made more flexible, so that when the air is let out it can be collapsed and, if desired, folded for convenience in packing and conveying it, it being sufficiently rigid when fully inflated to retain its shape, and consequently its hold on the person.

The great advantage of a buoy thus constructed is that a person in the water can so easily and readily apply it to the body, as it can he slipped on at front or rear, and when thus applied it will be retained in place without the aid of any form of flexible fastenings, and which, as a general rule, it is impossible for a person struggling in the water to utilize.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- A buoy or life-preserver made in the form of a horseshoe, open at one side, and having its ends provided with projections adapted to engage with the arms when applied to the body or person, and hold it in place, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. MOLELLAN.

\Vitnesses:

DUFF CHILD, W. M. Jonnsron. 

